Ocean data acquisition system

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Ocean data acquisition system (ODAS)

Definition
An ocean data acquisition system is a set of instruments placed at sea (not on ships) to collect meteorological and oceanographic data. It uses sensors to monitor the ocean and the atmosphere, and advances in microelectronics allow more sensors to run on less power.

Use
OdAS data are collected hourly and sent to the World Meteorological Organization’s Global Telecommunications System via a geostationary satellite after quality checks. About 1,200 ODAS buoys report sea temperature around 27,000 times per day, and about 600 buoys report sea-level pressure around 14,000 times per day. Real-time data supports forecasts of weather, ocean currents, and wave conditions, helping to warn mariners about unsafe conditions.

ODAS types
ODAS can be mounted on lighthouses, lightvessels, towers, offshore platforms, or buoys. They are not navigational aids, but are part of the maritime buoyage system and have fixed positions.

Data
ODAS may measure and report items such as:
- Air temperature
- Sea-level pressure
- Wind direction
- Wind speed and gusts
- Sea state and wave height
- Sea surface temperature
- Barometric pressure
- Visibility
- Relative humidity

Disadvantages
ODAS buoys are expensive to obtain and require specialized vessels for deployment.